Sensing and activation of anionic species by polyamine-based metal complexes

The role of metal complexes with polyamine ligands in selective binding of anions and their possible use as optical chemosensors or biologically relevant hydrolytic agents for anionic substrates will be discussed on the basis of some study cases from the work of the authors, with particular emphasis on the cooperative action of metal cation and polyamine receptor in both the processes of interaction and sensing/activation.